MANILA, Philippines -- Ilocos region police office (Region 1) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group led the awardees on Monday?s 18th Philippine National Police Anniversary at Camp Crame.

The Ilocos regional police bagged the ?Best Police Regional Office for 2008? while the CIDG was recognized as ?Best National Support Unit for 2008.?

They and other police officers and offices received their awards from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Director General Jesus Verzosa.

Meanwhile, a rookie police officer, Carl Marc Jopillo, was awarded the Medalya ng Katapangan (Medal of Courage) by Arroyo for ?extreme bravery in action at the risk of his life? when he single-handedly took on alleged members of the New People?s Army during their attack of the Libertad Municipal Police Station in Negros Oriental in November 2.

Jopillo wounded two of the suspects.

PO2 Allan Ruiz will also receive a posthumous award for ?offering his life? during an encounter with a notorious gang leader in Compostela Valley last December 12.

Ruiz died while being treated for shrapnel wounds he sustained from a grenade thrown by the suspects while serving a warrant of arrest for Emmanuel Quijano aka Djangla, the alleged leader of the group wanted for several murder and drug cases, and two others.

Two other police operatives were injured in the incident.

Other awardees were: ? Police Chief Superintendent Luisito Palmera, Regional Director, PRO4B and Chairman, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council; and PO2 Jay E Macutay, Regional Maritime Office 2 cited for "commendable and invaluable service" in the conduct of search, rescue and retrieval operations together with other concerned government agencies during the height of the M/V Princess of the Star tragedy and the sinking of the ill-fated M/B Maejan last December 14, respectively. ? Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Asal (for outstanding conduct) -- Barangay (village) Captain Anastacio De los Santos for his gallantry in action in defending his family and community by single-handedly engaging more or less 10 communist terrorists who attacked his residence in Cagayan on December 15. ? Medalya ng Katangi-tanging Gawa (for outstanding achievement) to: PCSupt Arturo G Cacdac Jr., Director, PNP Crime Laboratory Service for his establishment of a high standard of public service through the project of Professionalizing the Crime Laboratory Services of the PNP through the Implementation of a Certification Program for Technical Personnel in the field of Forensic Science;

PCSupt Constante D Azares, Chief National Operations Center, Directorate for Operations for his successful implementation of police actions for various major events in 2008; and

Police Senior Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne R Binag for his distinguished service as Chief of Staff of the Program Management Office that supervises the administration and implementation of the PNP Integrated Transformation Program.

? Non-Uniformed Personnel (NUP) of the Year -- NUP Lemuel A Divinagracia, Directorate for Plans

The other PNP Unit awardees are:

? Headquarters Support Service -- NAPOLCOM Chairman Streamer Award as Best National Administrative Support Unit for 2008; ? Criminal Investigation and Detection Group -- Chief PNP Streamer Award as Best National Operational Support Unit for 2008; ? Quezon City Police District -- Best NCRPO District Police Office for 2008; ? Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office -- Best Provincial Police Office of the Year ? Davao City Police Office -- Best City Police Office of the Year; ? Pagadian City Police Station, Zamboanga del Sur PPO, PRO 9 -- Best City Police Station of the Year; ? Marikina City Police Station -- Best NCRPO City Police Station of the Year; ? Ayungon Municipal Police Station, Negros Oriental PPO, PRO 7 -- Best Municipal Police Station of the Year; ? PRO 3 -- Best Police Regional Office Women and Children Protection Center of the Year; ? Davao del Norte PPO, PRO 11 -- Best Police Provincial Women and Children Protection Center of the Year; ? Legazpi City Police Station, Albay PPO, PRO 5 -- Best Urban Women and Children Protection Center of the Year; ? Cabiao Municipal Police Station, Nueva Ecija PPO, PRO 3 -- Best Rural Women and Children Protection Center of the Year; ? Regional Mobile Group Cordillera, PRO COR -- Best Regional Mobile Group of the Year; ? 201st Provincial Mobile Group, Cagayan PPO, PRO 2 -- Best Provincial mobile Group of the Year; ? Program Management Office -- Special Award, Plaque of Merit; ? Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response -- Special Award, Plaque of Merit; and ? International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) -- Special Award, Plaque of Recognition

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